Q&A: Sinless Perfection?

Q. I've heard that Nazarenes believe in sinless perfection. Is this true?
A. Isn't it amazing how information can become so twisted and distorted?

Every Nazarene believes that we can pray the Lord's Prayer as we confess and seek forgiveness for our "trespasses," and offer forgiveness to those who "trespass against us." We also believe in the possibility of continual, unbroken fellowship with our Lord afforded through the cleansing blood of Christ Jesus.

The inner pollution of sin that enslaves us to sin's power is broken and from it we are cleansed, inwardly made clean and whole, and given a pure heart. This does not mean that it is impossible for such a one to sin again. Indeed, if sin occurs (and it need not, because the essence of sin is selfishness, and the enslavement to self is broken when Jesus reigns in our hearts as Lord of Lords,) the Bible tells us we have One who intercedes with the Father for us on our behalf (1 John 2:1).

We believe that the gift of salvation includes the further work of inner transformation, wrought by the work of the Holy Spirit who baptizes us with His power. Please see the following scriptures:

1. Romans 12:1-2
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
3. Matthew 5:8
4. Psalm 24: 3-5
5. Romans 6:1-4
6. Ephesians 4:22-24
7. Colossians 2:6-12
8. Acts 15:8-9
9. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
10. 1 John 3:7-10

This is only a brief list of scriptures that show us the full range of our salvation in Christ. Christ died to save us from our sins (Titus 2:11-14). We have been reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins by Christ's redeeming work on the Cross. Additionally, we have been given the command to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). Holiness is purity of heart, not perfection of knowledge or even action. Mistakes can still be made. Misjudgments can still occur. As the Scriptures state, "We have this treasure in jars of clay"  (2 Corinthians 4:7).

There is a second work of grace in which we as saved, reconciled, redeemed believers, present ourselves to Christ as living sacrifices, (Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:24-25) to be entirely or wholly sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). We are then called to live a life of holiness (Hebrews 12:14), expressing this gift of holiness in love and compassion (1 Corinthians 13).

Unfortunately, some have misunderstood this biblical message, and it has become distorted into a caricature of human perfectionism. Nothing could be further from the scriptural truth! While we believe that the power of sin can be broken (Romans 6:1-4; 8:1-9) we make no claims that it is impossible for an entirely sanctified Christian to sin. But, praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ, there is no further need to live in sin (1 John 3:8-9).

David J. Felter

Holiness Today, November/December 2010

Please note: This article was originally published in 2010. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.